Dave Mackay: Farewell to a true football legend

He was one of football's true legends, a hard man player whose managerial career brought him to the Black Country.

And Dave Mackay's career became defined by a single picture, in which he has his right fist is clamped around the shirt of Billy Bremner.

As tributes were played to the former Walsall boss, it was that photograph that cropped.

Mackay, who died on Monday aged 80, said he disliked the image at a match between Tottenham and Leeds at White Hart Lane in August 1966.

He always maintained that the picture was a grossly unfair representation of his playing style, saying: "The famous picture is one that a lot of football fans like.

"I still get copies of them sent to my house for me to sign, which I do, all of them. While other people like the photograph, I don't because it portrays me as a bully, which I am not and never have been."

Mackay, who was part of Spurs' 1961 double-winning team, passed away at hospital in Nottingham.

Former teammates and rivals today spoke about the man and the manager, who was manager of Walsall from March 1977 to August 1978.

Former player Mick Kearns said Mackay's death was "dreadful news."

"It's shocking to hear.

"There's a number of tributes that I could pay to him. He was one of the best players I ever saw play.

"In all the time I was at Walsall, as a player, he was the best manager I played under.

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"He was a strict disciplinarian, very good tactically.

"As a player, he had everything – he was a terrific defender, a great tackler and a wonderful skill on the ball. He could use it really well.

"He was one of the old hard players. It was reported that he played on with a broken leg when he was at Derby."

Winger Alan Birch also played under Mackay for the season he managed Walsall.

"Probably one of the best managers I've ever played under. He was great at training – he was a lovely fellow. His training was all skill - he was just great to play under.

"He was very strict, but he was strict in a good way. What he wanted you to do, you had to do it. He wanted everything right.

"All his career he was a top player, and he took that into management as well."

Albion legend Tony 'Bomber' Brown said: "He was a magnificent player. He was a proper legend.

"He was so strong and powerful that he was a nightmare to play against and.

"He played in an era when you could really tackle and there was nobody who could tackle like him.

"But he was a great player as well. He had everything in his locker."

Mike Bailey, former Wolves captain, said: "He was one of the players everyone talked about in that era.

"He was a very talented player and also a nice guy.

"He was tough but very fair and he liked to win, as we all did.

"He was always aware of what was going on and it always felt like he knew where you were going to go next.

"He would read things so well and always seemed to be in the right place to nick the ball off you.

"You always had to be on your toes to have any chance against him."

Secretary of the Former Players Association Steve Davies said, on behalf of the club: "We extend our condolences to his friends and family."